“We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch, we are going back from whence we came.” – John F. Kennedy
Much like the ocean itself, Katrina Joy Green’s seascapes are exquisitely serene. She uses resin and beautiful smudges of navy, turquoise and similar shades of blue in the paintings available in her small shop, Katrina Joy Art. “Blue has always been my favorite color and it just so happens that now I live a couple minutes away from Florida’s Emerald Coast. I love the sand and especially the vibrant colors of the water,” she shared.
Although originally from Colorado, Green captures the essence of the ocean in her art like a Florida native. The waves appear wild and wind-torn, pounding on the shoreline, and she applies her designs to the shop’s various housewares, like kitchen trays, drink coasters, hanging wooden circles, ornaments and “Lazy Susan” turntables. “I started painting with resin about seven months ago. When I would go back home to Colorado, my mom and I would try to think of some fun crafts for the family to do together,” she recalled. “It is all adults in the family, so it’s fun to think of more complex, artsy projects. I was on Pinterest and fell in love with the glossy, colorful look of resin. We did a big family test project with it and had a blast. I haven’t been able to stop since!” Green’s subsequent move to Florida inspired a passion for ocean art. “When I first moved here, I started painting the water with oils and acrylic. Then, after my family tried out resin, I thought it would be fun to do it with the colors of the water. I love the lacy white waves and depth of blue you can get with resin. All my resin pieces are circles, because they remind me of looking out of an airplane window over the sea and I love the clean modern simplicity and wholeness of a circle.”
Beyond the sea, Green is also a talented portrait illustrator. “I create what I would love in my own home. Maybe that is a usable ocean resin fruit and cheese tray. Or if it is a pencil portrait, I am meticulous with the eyes to darken them, give them expression to stand out against the rest of the face. If it is an ocean resin, I layer and layer each piece until I see that ocean come alive. I would never sell a piece that I personally am not 100% proud of,” said Green. She finds design inspiration in her spirituality. “I believe God was the first designer, so I’m simply copying the beautiful things He has made – a mountain, the ocean, a smiling face. I put my own twist on what I see in the world around me.”
Green has built a fan base through word of mouth by posting her works on social media. “All my art is sold through Instagram or Facebook. Most of my pieces sell soon after they are posted,” she exclaimed proudly. “My favorite part is seeing someone’s joy when they see something I have created for them, whether that something is a portrait of a loved one or keepsake ocean of their favorite beach vacation.” Bring a little beach to your house and view all of Green’s handmade creations on her Facebook page or Instagram account here.
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